River Torrens | Adelaidia River Torrens River Torrens Adelaide, SA Australia The River Torrens (Karrawirraparri) was not only crucial to the siting of Adelaide as South Australia’s capital city , but it also has in several ways continued significantly to influence the life of the city and adjacent regions. Course of the river The River Torrens was named by Colonel William Light in 1836 in honour of Sir Robert Torrens, the chairman of the South Australian Colonisation Commission. It rises some 55km east-northeast of Adelaide in the Mount Pleasant district of the eastern Mt Lofty Ranges and only 20km from the eastern scarp of the upland. Draining an area of about 500km2 the Torrens flows westwards across the ranges, cutting a deep gorge before emerging on to the Adelaide Plains at Athelstone. For the next 7–8km the river runs through a series of basins and shallow defiles, with steep south-facing bluffs.

Then, from Hillcrest to Adelaide, the river runs in a deep channel cut into old valley floors or terraces, so that Walkerville Terrace, for example, runs along a physical feature of the same name, while Mann Terrace is located on the slope linking two such old valley floors. Though it has since incised its bed, the character of the valley changes abruptly to the west of Adelaide, for the river leaves its confined valley and spreads out on to the plain. Formerly the river flowed northwest toward the Port River, but the sediment picked up in the uplands choked the channels and the Torrens was diverted to the west migrating laterally before eroding its present channel, creating swamps, marshes and, notably, the ‘Reedbeds’ behind the sand dunes which front the coast, before draining north to the Port River or south to the Patawalonga. Importance to Adelaide When Light sought a site for his capital city he had in mind specific requirements. The plains were wooded and fertile, and the site was to be within easy reach of the Port River harbour. Building stone was available locally and in the nearby Adelaide Hills. Routes through the ranges were accessed first via Anstey Hill and later via the Torrens Gorge.

The flow of the river is seasonal, but it was thought that even in summer the waterholes of the Torrens would furnish an abundant supply of potable water; though whether it was reasonable to describe it – as it was at the time – as ‘delicious’ and ‘fresh’ – is questionable. Notwithstanding, the river still supplies water for local irrigation and domestic use, and on a larger scale for several water conservation schemes serving the Adelaide metropolitan area, both in the past and at present. They include the weirs at the mouth of the Gorge (1857) and near Gumeracha (1918), and the reservoirs at Thorndon Park (1860; decommissioned in 1986 and converted to a recreation area), Hope Valley (1872), Millbrook (1918) and Kangaroo Creek (1969). Changes to the Torrens The river was, however, a mixed blessing, and it is no exaggeration to state that during the first century of settlement much time and money were expended on attempts to control the river and the problems it posed, especially for the areas west of the city.

A direct outlet to the sea was excavated through the coastal sandhills at West Beach, channels were straightened and cleared, and the flood danger mitigated with the construction of dams, and especially the Torrens Dam (or weir) west King William Road in the city in 1881, behind which was formed the Torrens Lake. Siltation built up the beds of the channels (it is recorded that about 1.5m of sediment were deposited in the river channel east of Henley Beach between 1909 and 1925) and the likelihood of flooding was increased as the capacity of the channels was reduced. This was, to put it mildly, inconvenient. In September 1863, for instance, the river came down in flood and some members of the congregation at the Fulham Wesleyan Church were cut off from their houses on the opposite bank. To reach their homes they had to travel via Hindmarsh, a trek of almost 18km to attain a distance of some 800m. Yet the river waters and contained sediment were a valuable resource in these same flood-prone areas.

In 1886, when the supply diminished as a result of flood control and particularly the completion of the Torrens Dam, a Mr White of Fulham Reedbeds, claimed damages against the Corporation of Adelaide, contending that he was disadvantaged by his not receiving the river’s ‘natural flow’. Challenges The Torrens was everywhere a physical barrier between north and south. The channel was negotiated at first by fords and footbridges and, between Adelaide and North Adelaide, also by a punt pulled by a rope. Road bridges were constructed, but all sustained flood damage so that for many decades their repair and reconstruction were a considerable burden on the public purse. Also, several people were drowned trying to cross the river. In September 1841, for example, the nurse and daughter of Mr and Mrs Charles Mann were drowned attempting a crossing at Klemzig. The river in flood brought with it a welcome supply of firewood, and cartloads were obtained from the flooded waters, but rescuing it from the torrent was not without its hazards: in June 1855 10-year-old Thomas McCann drowned when attempting to collect wood from the Torrens at Bowden.

The river and the associated Torrens Lake continue to trap and claim the careless, unwary or just unlucky. Floods also wrought severe damage on the many market gardens and orchards located on land near the river to take advantage of water and good soil, both in the metropolitan area and upstream in the Adelaide Hills. Soil, produce and buildings were frequently lost or damaged. Other riverside properties were not immune. In September 1844 the river ran high and destroyed a starch factory at Walkerville and a brewery in Adelaide. Club boat houses have been damaged or washed away from time to time. Recreation By 1862, however, there were those who perceived the recreational possibilities of the river and its valley in the vicinity of Adelaide. In 1862 ‘Cataractus’, writing to the Register, proposed that two footbridges ought to be built across the Torrens, and that the river be dammed near the gaol. This would convert the river and its valley into a lake, which would beautify the area and make it into one where Adelaideans could take their leisure.

That dream became a reality in 188l; though what is regarded as ‘leisure’, and ‘entertainment’ varies both individually and in time. A footbridge opened in 2014 was constructed across the Torrens Lake connecting the refurbished Adelaide Oval and the Convention Centre–Casino complex to the south. Linear parks have been constructed along the river both to the west and upstream from the city, where the O-Bahn busway also utilises the valley corridor. As a result of damming the river, sediment and other debris which was formerly carried and deposited to the west, in the Reedbeds, was trapped behind the dam, necessitating the periodic draining of the lake and clearing of the accumulated debris. Algal blooms can also be a nuisance in summer. But the Torrens Lake, with its birds and boats, and its adjacent lawns and gardens, popular for picnics and for quiet contemplation, its restaurants with alfresco dining, and its associated sports venues, undoubtedly enhances the city centre and is a welcome and popular development. For thousands, the Torrens Lake is synonymous with the ‘Popeye’ boat and paddleboats.

Though the river and its environs have always had their darker side, they are, by and large, a picturesque amenity located in the very special parklands. They are greatly appreciated by residents and visitors of all ages. By CR Twidale, University of Adelaide This entry was first published in The Wakefield companion to South Australian history edited by Wilfrid Prest, Kerrie Round and Carol Fort (Adelaide: Wakefield Press, 2001). Edited lightly and references updated. Uploaded 28 January 2015. Media Adelaide City Tour with Torrens River Cruise and Giant Pandas - Tour Adelaide Adelaide City Tour with Torrens River Cruise and Giant Pandas Free cancellation * No booking or credit card fees Mobile Voucher Accepted Downloading... What To Expect Adelaide - a captivating classic Australian city. A city of churches, the food and wine capital of Australia, sandstone homes and cottages with sweeping gardens and greenbelts. A young Australian city rich in recent history yet charmingly modern. A city with a passion for fine living. Adelaide is truly the Festival City.

Specifications Hotel pick up or Adelaide Central Bus Station Duration: 7 hours and 15 minutes Availability: 6307 Voucher info: Paper voucher printout not required for this activity. You may show e-voucher from your mobile device. Languages: Featured On: Haigh's Chocolates  River Torrens Cruise  Adelaide Zoo  Adelaide City Tours & Sightseeing  Adelaide Cruises, Mini & Dinner Cruises  City Tours & Sightseeing  Cruises, Mini & Dinner Cruises Description The captivating, classic Australian city of Adelaide is a city of churches, good food and great wine - many consider it to be the wine capital of Australia. Classic architecture features sandstone homes and cottages with sweeping gardens and greenbelts. This young Australian city is rich in recent history and yet charmingly modern. A city with a passion for fine living, Adelaide is truly the festival city. Enjoy stunning views from Montefiore Hill. See historic landmarks such as Victoria Square and the Terraces that separate Adelaide from the greenbelts. We will also visit the seaside town of Glenelg and Haigh's Chocolates!

At the conclusion of your tor around the city, take a scenic cruise along the Torrens River on board the famous 'Pop-eye'. Alight at Adelaide Zoo to visit Wang Wang and Funi - the only endangered Giant Pandas in the Southern Hemisphere and the first to live permanently in Australia! Continue with the river cruise back to the city at Elder Park.

Coach Tour Victoria Square - heart of the city Gouger Street - restaurants/cafes The grand boulevard of King William Street The Terraces - north, south, east and west that separate the city from the greenbelts Parks, gardens and greenbelts River Torrens with its delightful garden banks Parliament House State Library with the Bradman collection Trinity Church - Adelaide's oldest church Trendy Hutt Street Enjoy complimentary tea or coffee accompanied by fine Haigh's chocolates Visit the seaside town of Glenelg Perhaps a walk along Jetty Road, browse in the shops or simply relax on the beach Beehive Corner at Rundle Mall Adelaide Oval - one of Australia's most notable cricket grounds Quaint suburbs of North Adelaide O'Connell Street - restaurants and trendy shops St Peter's Cathedral Colonel Light's Lookout on Montefiore Hill affording spectacular views over Adelaide River Cruise Board the famous 'Pop-eye' for a truly memorable scenic cruise on the Torrens River Picturesque scenery and prolific birdlife provide the beautiful backdrop to the city of Adelaide Adelaide Zoo Adelaide Zoo - dedicated to conservation and public education about the habitat of animals and endagered species Alight at Adelaide Zoo jetty and take a short stroll to the zoo entry Time to explore the zoo at leisure before your allocated

 Giant Pandas viewing time Observe Wang Wang and Funi in their new home.

River Cruise Re-board 'Pop-eye' to complete your river cruise experience back to the city at Elder Park where your tour concludes. Includes Capital Cities of Australia - Overview • Adelaide, South Australia The capital of South Australia, Adelaide, is on Gulf St Vincent which leads through Investigator Strait to the Southern Ocean . As with most major Australian cities, a river runs through the city, and in Adelaide this is the Torrens. The larger, longer Murray River empties into Lake Alexandrina and into the ocean southeast of Adelaide on the eastern side of the Fleurieu Peninsula . Adelaide city centre has streets laid out in a grid surrounded by parklands. Adelaide is named after Queen Adelaide, German-born consort of England's King William IV. More » continue reading below our video Tipping Etiquette Around the World Brisbane skyline © Tourism Queensland. Brisbane skyline © Tourism Queensland • Brisbane, Queensland Brisbane, capital of Queensland, is located on the southeastern side of the state, just north of the Gold Coast . The city has grown alongside the meandering Brisbane River with the city's eastern suburbs fronting Moreton Bay on the western side of the Pacific Ocean . In population, Brisbane ranks first in Queensland and third among Australia's cities after Sydney and Melbourne.

Brisbane is named after the river which snakes through the city. The river itself is named after Sir Thomas Brisbane, Governor of New South Wales from 1821 to 1825. More » Australian Parliament House © Australian Capital Tourism. Australian Parliament House © Australian Capital Tourism • Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory is Australia's national capital. Geographically, the Australian Capital Territory is within, but not a part of, the state of New South Wales, in much the same way that the District of Columbia, where the US capital of Washington is located, is part of neither the states of Maryland nor Virginia. As the seat of national government, the Australian Parliament and the nation's central federal offices are located in Canberra, as are the nation's national galleries, museums and library. Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin was created when the Molonglo River was dammed in the early 1960s. More » Aerial view of Darwin © Tourism NT. Aerial view of Darwin © Tourism NT • Darwin, Northern Territory It's Australia's northernmost capital city in the region commonly referred to as the Top End.

It's a city that's suffered the brunt of war and natural catastrophes but has seemed to rise stronger than ever before. As the Australian capital city closest to Southeast Asia, it is a melting pot of peoples and cultures, from Aboriginal and Islander Australians to the descendants of European settlers and Asian wayfarers and migrants. The city is named after evolutionist Charles Darwin who sailed on the HMS Beagle in the early 1800s, although Darwin was not on the Beagle when the ship sailed into Darwin Harbour in 1839. More » Port Arthur © Tourism Tasmania & Sarah Quine. Port Arthur © Tourism Tasmania & Sarah Quine • Hobart, Tasmania Hobart, Australia's southernmost state capital, is located on the southeastern side of island-state Tasmania. It has grown on the banks of the Derwent River and is the end point of the annual sea classic, the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race , which starts on Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day . The ruins of the Port Arthur convict penitentiary and the historic village of Richmond are but two popular Hobart daytrip destinations.

The main island of Tasmania is no more than 62.5 square kilometres and most Tasmanian attractions can be reached in a day from Hobart or the northern city of Launceston. More » Melbourne skyline © Tourism Victoria. Melbourne skyline © Tourism Victoria • Melbourne, Victoria Ah, Melbourne. It's one of my favorite cities, and always a pleasure to visit. Getting around Melbourne to view and experience its many city attractions is easy and pleasant with its free City Circle tram and the City Tourist Shuttle . Catch either of these two visitor-friendly vehicles and get off at places that interest you and then get back on and head to your next destination. And feel the throb of this city. It's alive in its streets, its trams, its sights, its arts and entertainment venues, its restaurants and bars, and its day-to-day activities. More » Perth skyline © Tourism Western Australia. Perth skyline © Tourism Western Australia • Perth, Western Australia Hemmed in by the Indian Ocean in the west and the treeless Nullarbor Plain in the east, Perth is easily the most isolated state capital in the world.

By road it's some 2750 kilometres from the nearest Australian state capital, Adelaide in South Australia, and nearly 4000 kilometres from Sydney on the east coast. But this is a city of the future, with a burgeoning population, new housing developments, and riches from the state's mineral resources. For the visitor, Perth is not just a destination but also an accessible gateway to the state's beaches, wine regions, habitats of marine life, World Heritage sites , and striking natural landscapes. More » Sydney Opera House and city skyline © Tourism New South Wales. Sydney Opera House and city skyline © Tourism New South Wales • Sydney, New South Wales Sydney, capital of New South Wales, is Australia's first city, having grown from the first European settlement in 1770 on Sydney Cove into the vibrant megametropolis that it is today. It is a city of many attractions and a popular first destination for visitors to Australia. It is the city of the iconic Sydney Opera House , yachts and ferries on Sydney Harbour, a string of white-sand beaches, galleries and museums in the heart of the city, restaurants and fine dining, and a variety of many other city attractions.

More » Adelaide | South Australia, Australia | Britannica.com South Australia, Australia Terence Tao Adelaide, city and capital of the state of South Australia . Situated at the base of the Mount Lofty Ranges , 9 miles (14 km) inland from the centre of the eastern shore of the Gulf St. Vincent, it has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers (February mean temperature 74 °F [23 °C]), mild winters (July mean 54 °F [12 °C]), and an average annual rainfall of 21 inches (530 mm). The site, chosen in 1836 by William Light (the colony’s first surveyor general), is on slightly rising ground along the Torrens River, which divides it into a southern business district and a northern residential section. The city is separated from its suburbs by extensive areas of parklands. Named for Queen Adelaide, consort of the British king William IV , it was incorporated as Australia’s first municipal government in 1840, but the city council ran into considerable debt and became defunct in 1843. Adelaide was thereafter controlled by the provincial government until 1849, when a city commission was formed.

A municipal corporation was reestablished in 1852, and the city gained a lord mayoralty in 1919. Parklands along the Torrens River, Adelaide, S. Aus. Picturepoint, London The fertility of the surrounding plains, easy access to the Murray lowlands to the east and southeast, and the presence of mineral deposits in the nearby hills all contributed to the city’s growth. As an early agricultural marketing centre, it handled wheat, wool, fruits, and wine. Adelaide, aided by its central position and a ready supply of raw materials, has since become industrialized, with factories producing automobile components, machinery, textiles, and chemicals. A petroleum refinery was completed in 1962 at Hallet Cove, south of Adelaide near Port Noarlunga; a second refinery at Port Stanvac operated in the area until it was closed in 2003. Adelaide is connected by pipeline with the Gidgealpa natural-gas fields in Cooper Basin , northeastern South Australia. A focus of rail, sea, air, and road transportation, Adelaide receives the bulk of the products of the lower Murray River valley, which has no port at its mouth.

Adelaide’s own harbour facilities are at Port Adelaide Enfield , 7 miles (11 km) northwest. Similar Topics Torrens, River (Use this option if your browser will not open the folders.) Place Names of South Australia - T Torrens, River Also see Adelaide - Beaches and Bathing . An Essay on the River Torrens On a warm summer's day in November 1836 Lt W.G. Field, of the Rapid, George S. Kingston and John Morphett were trekking over the Adelaide plain when Mr Kingston's dog got the scent of water and dashed towards it to slake its thirst. Thus, the watercourse was discovered, being named "River Torrens" in 1837 by Governor Hindmarsh. What they saw was a chain of large waterholes bounded by large gum trees and scrub; these holes varied in size the largest being over 200 yards in length, some of which were so deep that even the most daring of divers could not bottom them. It was not long, however, before the colonists cut away every vestige of timber along the banks and carted away the gravel for roadmaking and home building.

With the loss of its natural surface the watercourse was destroyed as the banks between the waterholes gradually washed away and deposited in the waterholes - the process of levelling began and continued "until the river assumed its present desolate appearance" which by 1878 was commented upon in condemnatory terms: Those who have recently arrived in the colony... can scarcely be made to believe that there were ever deep clear pools, or shady corners of finny inhabitants in the unsightly chasm at present known as the River Torrens, whose waters are black with sewage of the town, and whose odour is not only offensive but injurious to health... Henry Breaker was aged six years when he came out in the Buffalo with his parents and recalled that in the early days of settlement the bed of the River Torrens was generally green with grass and reeds under which surface the main part of the stream percolated out of sight. Thomas Frost who arrived in the Asia in 1839 wrote of his excursions to the river and attendant hardship and tragedy: The greatest difficulty of all was getting good water.

The river was the only supply and when flooded or drying up the water was scarcely fit to drink, and to get it we had to roll it in barrels up the river banks. This was the job my eldest cousin and self had to do almost every day and it was a heavy pull, a double rope being secured to iron hoops or chains, working on spindles fixed to both ends of the barrel. When obtained the water was far from pure. We all suffered from dysentery; our poor afflicted cousin Maria was the first to give up to this and my old grandmother did not long survive her, but passed away after a time of great suffering; thus both were taken from us after a few months of colonial life. The heat and droughts were, at first, almost unbearable; many deaths occurred and medical help at that time was far from efficient, as many diseases which prevailed were new to their experience; the young children, especially, suffered most. To counter the contagion emanating from the polluted water the colonists were advised to make and use water filters.

The directions for manufacture of these all but ineffective devices were: Take an earthen jar or barrel and turn the narrow end downwards; insert a tap near the bottom; insert a piece of slate or lead perforated with holes; put in four inches of clean, washed gravel, the size of peas; add four to five inches of clear sand; add four to five inches of clean, washed charcoal; add another layer of sand. Some citizens, such as those in Hindmarsh, were fortunate in having the river virtually at their backdoors and it became a favourite venue for swimming.

Further, domestic cows and goats, which supplied milk to households, were taken to the river on a daily basis where their effluvia flowed readily into the stream causing an irate observer of a like happening to proclaim that he was disgusted "at seeing some dozen cows and horses drinking and making their deposits in the reservoir created by the [corporation] in the formation of what is called the City Ford." It was a paradise for the children of Adelaide, Hindmarsh and Thebarton - lurking in deep holes were "yabbies" which, when cooked, were hawked around for a profit of a few pennies; minnows were hooked with string and pin while, for small recompense, native women could be persuaded to dive for mussels. Such offerings from the river were a welcome addition to the frugal dinner tables of the working classes of Adelaide and adjacent suburbs. From the earliest days the river was a favoured resort for bathers during the searing heat of summer, but by 1850 the City Council had imposed prohibitive by-laws against which many complaints were forthcoming: Authorities allow cattle to be driven to the river [and] deposit evacuations in the gentle stream.

If any individual is found exercising that vocation which is "next to godliness" on any part of the Torrens between the Aboriginal Location and the Company's Bridge, the myrmidons of the law dart upon him... Where are we to wash off that dust? A newspaper editor viewed these remarks as ill-advised and commented that because the restrictions had been imposed "in deference to the opinions of scientific men" such a course was necessary to preserve the health of the city. The restrictions remained in place until 1856 when the City Council instructed inspectors not to interfere with persons bathing below the ford between 6 pm and 8 am; thus townspeople were again able to use the river for recreational purposes. It is apparent that the local Kaurna tribe were either given immunity from the by-laws or chose to ignore them: Is it not shameful and disgusting that the blacks should be allowed to paddle about and impregnate the water with the washing of their filthy bodies within a few feet of where the North Adelaide carriers lift the water... Men and boys, with their filthy clothing, half-immersed, may be seen every day snaring sprats, looking for crawfish, and the like, and dogs without number swimming about.

These concerns were apparently ill-founded for, in mid-1859, a chemical analysis of water taken from near the ford and environs was undertaken by Dr Smith, Professor of Chemistry at the Sydney University, who proclaimed it as "pure and wholesome" with a taste he described as "soft and flattish, but not disagreeable". This considered opinion was challenged by another analytical chemist who published information showing that while the Melbourne water supply had an 11.86% of solid matter in it the comparable figure for Adelaide was 33.76%. Among the poorer people living adjacent to the river were a few widows who eked out an existence by keeping a cow or two and selling milk but by 1855 they were obliged to urge their "weary legs" further up the river for watering purposes because of pollution caused by the slaughter yard which operated on the banks of the river adjacent to Thebarton: Blood... diluted with... water spreads through the sand and the water particles being evaporated by the blazing sun leave the more solid parts to settle on the sand and become putrid [and] full of rank, green poisonous slime.

As the population of Adelaide increased a few enterprising colonists took up the occupation of water-carting. Prices were a basic one shilling per load and increased by one penny for each street south of Hindley Street. In hot weather, the river being low, the water carts, which were prone to spring leaks after being driven a mile or two, invariably dispensed tepid water, by no means clean - Their advice would be "let it settle for a few hours". Agitation from the press and inhabitants prompted the Government to finance a scheme to supply the city with reticulated water and by 12 March 1862, 2,694 houses were connected to the mains. However, this had a harmful effect on residents of Hindmarsh and Thebarton - their water supply from the River Torrens became scant in quantity and inferior in quality due, primarily, to the diversion of the river water to the reservoir for the Adelaide waterworks. Considering that they, too, were entitled to share in "a supply of the pure element" a few of the leading inhabitants of Thebarton addressed the Commissioner of Public Works, requesting that a main be laid along or near the Port Road.

Their request was considered by the Adelaide City Council which consented promptly to the continuation of a supply pipe from West Terrace to a point where the local people could have a stand-pipe erected for their own use. The only stipulation made by the Council was that the supply pipe should be laid in the plantation adjoining and forming part of the Port Road, and that for the protection of city property the work should be carried out by the City Surveyor. The work was completed late in January 1864; the cost was met by some of the more affluent citizens on the understanding "that they shall be repaid by consumers', while the Government attached a meter to the main and charged at the rate of one shilling and sixpence (15 cents) per thousand gallons supplied. Conclusion On 27 June 1993 the Sunday Mail proclaimed many revelations under a banner headline - OUR RIVER OF FILTH - and its investigative reporter referred to the "shameful sight" as "an eyesore that turns tourists' stomachs".

His considered comments were followed by "What the Experts Say" - they included KESAB General Manager, Chairman of the River Torrens Improvements Standing Committee and the Leader of the Opposition - it must be said that the latter's "expertise" in this area was ill-defined! Not to be outdone by its contemporary's "revelations" the Advertiser, on 29 June 1993, presented a leading article on "Turning the Tide on Water Quality", where resource specialists argued for "unique approaches to solve the State's worsening water-quality problems" and concluded that "the bulk of Adelaide's water needs... [will] come from stormwater-replenished ground-water sources via bores..." As early as 1848 the subject of artesian wells had been to the fore as a means of water supply but its protagonist was informed by the spokesman of an embryonic water company that he "had it on good authority that an artesian well could not be obtained here." And so, today, the argument has come full circle and a cry for greater reliance on artesian water is again abroad, together with a proposal to introduce an aquifer concept.

TheSunday Mail report echoes much of what has been recorded above for it expresses concern at the ongoing pollution of the river and the washing away of its banks. Years of inaction have again raised the cry of it being "turned into a health risk", a situation which has prevailed since 1837. Remedies have been suggested including increased penalties for rubbish dumping, "more litter bins and greater co-ordination by local and State government to encourage better management" and the implementation of a "total management strategy". With the control of the river and near environs spread among various bodies there is little wonder that "confusion and inactivity reigns" - a process which commenced in 1837 and which promises to continue into the future aided and abetted by a singular absence of civic pride. (Written in 1994) General Notes 10 September 1883, page 5b. "Floods and the Torrens Lake" is in the Register, 14 May 1884, pages 4g-5b.

Flooding of the Torrens (Taken from Geoffrey H Manning'sA Colonial Experience) About twelve months prior to our arrival in South Australia the Editor of the SA Gazette & Colonial Register wrote scathingly: What the River Torrens may be capable of performing for a week or two of the rainy season beyond sweeping down to the swamp the summer filth of Adelaide we cannot guess; but the Torrens at other times is not a river at all, but merely a chain of ponds. At the present moment, its running water may be spanned with the hand and sounded with the forefinger. It has ceased to flow immediately below the town, and is from thence downwards a very formidable dry ditch. However, I recall well two floods of the 1840s which reeked havoc and caused the destruction of goods, chattels and buildings. In September 1844 for more than two hours excited colonists watched the swollen and angry river at work. In apparent safety we saw the river eating away at the foundations of Shand's brewery situated to the east of Adelaide. That the building was doomed was evident. The unfortunate owner and willing helpers carried many of the casks and other utensils of the brewery to safety.

By four o'clock the building was undermined and down it came with a tremendous crash. Amid falling debris, and with the water swirling close to them, the onlookers ran for their lives. As it was, many of them had narrow escapes from death by injury or drowning for, to add to the confusion, a large portion of the bank fell in with a great rumble, and showered the bottles, casks and brewing utensils floating in the river with clods of earth. The despised Torrens was in flood and having its revenge for the contemptuous remarks that had been hurled at it. This flood which began on 21 September 1844 caused widespread damage and, later, I realised that I had witnessed one of the dramatic episodes in the early history of South Australia. Years rolled by. In mid-September 1847 the weather was stormy and a few days later danger threatened; a hurricane was blowing and water rushed madly down from the hills. On that night bridges at Hahndorf and on a road near the Onkaparinga were swept away, the potato and wheat crops of German settlers in the district were badly damaged, and fences washed down.

Plantations of trees at Richmond disappeared - the ground had been prepared at great expense, 2,000 trees having been brought from Sydney and planted. The starch factory of Dr Davey near Walkerville was flooded and all his furniture and clothing and most of his manufacturing utensils went down the stream. So sudden was the rush of water that he could save nothing. All he could do was to make for high ground and safety. The Frome Bridge was damaged considerably; a chain bridge a little lower down was lifted up and carried away. The then City Bridge at Morphett Street was totally undermined and big pieces of it were borne away by the stream. The inhabitants of the Reedbeds and adjoining areas felt the effects of the flood greatly. The river overflowed its banks, rushed through houses built near the edge and drove the inhabitants to higher ground. From 8 am until 3 pm the river gushed masses of water over its banks and all the farms were several feet under water. It was 5.30 pm before the river resumed its normal channel. From these disasters we became only too aware that the muddy little Torrens could become a raging demon, to be checked only by the cunning and forethought of the colonists.

The first dam built on the Torrens was washed away in 1867 and not until the weir of today was built in 1881 was another effort made to deal with the river. The Torrens Lake is described in the Register, 3 June 1884, page 5a; also see Observer, 18 March 1884, page 5b. Reminiscences of the 1840s are in the Observer, 22 June 1907, page 51a. Fishing in the River Torrens In the first decade following European settlement large numbers of sweet little 'slipperies? (Galanias sp.), which seldom ran beyond three inches in length, were caught in the River Torrens which then consisted of continuous deep pools; also 'scalers?, a species of cod, which were from 8 to 10 inches long and lurked beneath logs.

Boys in those days were too poor to buy hooks so they resorted to bent pins, strong thread and a stout reed, and when they got a bite the fish was snatched up and swung around the head until the young fisherman could vacate the log, from whence he was fishing, and dash his prey upon the shore before it could wriggle off the barbless pin. It was a paradise for the children of Adelaide, Hindmarsh and Thebarton for secreted in deep holes were ?yabbies? which, when cooked, were hawked around for a profit of a few pennies, while, for small recompense, native women were persuaded to dive for mussels. Such offerings from the river were a welcome addition to the frugal dinner tables of the working classes of Adelaide and adjacent suburbs. A fireworks display on the lake is described in the Advertiser, 16 May 1885, page 6e and a boating accident in the Chronicle, 23 February 1889, page 22g.

"Bumbledom and Boating" is in the Register, 25 and 26 June 1886, pages 4g-7c and 7h. A boating accident is reported in the Register, 21, 23 and 26 February 1889, pages 4h-6d, 4g and 6c. "The Torrens Lake and Rowing" is in the Register, 16 July 1889, page 7d, "The Water of the Torrens - Thirsty Stock and the Rowing Regatta" on 9, 17 and 20 December 1902, pages 8b, 7i and 8f. "Motor Launch for the Torrens" is in the Register, 19 October 1903, page 6i. Mr Jolly's motor launch is discussed in the Express, 19 October 1903, page 4b; a photograph is in the Observer, 19 May 1906, page 29.

A photograph of the opening of the boating season is in the Chronicle, 23 December 1905, page 28, of "holiday time" in the Observer, 6 January 1906, page 27. "Aquatics Fit for Punch" is in the Register, 31 October 1906, page 6h. "Torrens Bank Fire - Jolley's Premises Destroyed" is in the Register, 22 April 1914, page 8h. Photographs of a carnival are in the Observer, 15 February 1919, page 26. "Boat Owners' Grievances" is in the Register, 21 November 1921, page 8.

A photograph of the floating dance "palais" is in the Chronicle, 22 November 1924, page 38, of its demolition on River Torrens | SA History Hub The River Torrens (Karrawirraparri) was not only crucial to the siting of Adelaide as South Australia’s capital city , but it also has in several ways continued significantly to influence the life of the city and adjacent regions. Course of the river The River Torrens was named by Colonel William Light in 1836 in honour of Sir Robert Torrens, the chairman of the South Australian Colonisation Commission. It rises some 55km east-northeast of Adelaide in the Mount Pleasant district of the eastern Mt Lofty Ranges and only 20km from the eastern scarp of the upland. Draining an area of about 500km2 the Torrens flows westwards across the ranges, cutting a deep gorge before emerging on to the Adelaide Plains at Athelstone. For the next 7–8km the river runs through a series of basins and shallow defiles, with steep south-facing bluffs.

Then, from Hillcrest to Adelaide, the river runs in a deep channel cut into old valley floors or terraces, so that Walkerville Terrace, for example, runs along a physical feature of the same name, while Mann Terrace is located on the slope linking two such old valley floors. Though it has since incised its bed, the character of the valley changes abruptly to the west of Adelaide, for the river leaves its confined valley and spreads out on to the plain. Formerly the river flowed northwest toward the Port River, but the sediment picked up in the uplands choked the channels and the Torrens was diverted to the west migrating laterally before eroding its present channel, creating swamps, marshes and, notably, the ‘Reedbeds’ behind the sand dunes which front the coast, before draining north to the Port River or south to the Patawalonga. Importance to Adelaide When Light sought a site for his capital city he had in mind specific requirements. The plains were wooded and fertile, and the site was to be within easy reach of the Port River harbour. Building stone was available locally and in the nearby Adelaide Hills. Routes through the ranges were accessed first via Anstey Hill and later via the Torrens Gorge.

The flow of the river is seasonal, but it was thought that even in summer the waterholes of the Torrens would furnish an abundant supply of potable water; though whether it was reasonable to describe it – as it was at the time – as ‘delicious’ and ‘fresh’ – is questionable. Notwithstanding, the river still supplies water for local irrigation and domestic use, and on a larger scale for several water conservation schemes serving the Adelaide metropolitan area, both in the past and at present. They include the weirs at the mouth of the Gorge (1857) and near Gumeracha (1918), and the reservoirs at Thorndon Park (1860; decommissioned in 1986 and converted to a recreation area), Hope Valley (1872), Millbrook (1918) and Kangaroo Creek (1969). Changes to the Torrens The river was, however, a mixed blessing, and it is no exaggeration to state that during the first century of settlement much time and money were expended on attempts to control the river and the problems it posed, especially for the areas west of the city.

A direct outlet to the sea was excavated through the coastal sandhills at West Beach, channels were straightened and cleared, and the flood danger mitigated with the construction of dams, and especially the Torrens Dam (or weir) west King William Road in the city in 1881, behind which was formed the Torrens Lake. Siltation built up the beds of the channels (it is recorded that about 1.5m of sediment were deposited in the river channel east of Henley Beach between 1909 and 1925) and the likelihood of flooding was increased as the capacity of the channels was reduced. This was, to put it mildly, inconvenient. In September 1863, for instance, the river came down in flood and some members of the congregation at the Fulham Wesleyan Church were cut off from their houses on the opposite bank. To reach their homes they had to travel via Hindmarsh, a trek of almost 18km to attain a distance of some 800m. Yet the river waters and contained sediment were a valuable resource in these same flood-prone areas.

In 1886, when the supply diminished as a result of flood control and particularly the completion of the Torrens Dam, a Mr White of Fulham Reedbeds, claimed damages against the Corporation of Adelaide, contending that he was disadvantaged by his not receiving the river’s ‘natural flow’. Challenges The Torrens was everywhere a physical barrier between north and south. The channel was negotiated at first by fords and footbridges and, between Adelaide and North Adelaide, also by a punt pulled by a rope. Road bridges were constructed, but all sustained flood damage so that for many decades their repair and reconstruction were a considerable burden on the public purse. Also, several people were drowned trying to cross the river. In September 1841, for example, the nurse and daughter of Mr and Mrs Charles Mann were drowned attempting a crossing at Klemzig. The river in flood brought with it a welcome supply of firewood, and cartloads were obtained from the flooded waters, but rescuing it from the torrent was not without its hazards: in June 1855 10-year-old Thomas McCann drowned when attempting to collect wood from the Torrens at Bowden.

The river and the associated Torrens Lake continue to trap and claim the careless, unwary or just unlucky. Floods also wrought severe damage on the many market gardens and orchards located on land near the river to take advantage of water and good soil, both in the metropolitan area and upstream in the Adelaide Hills. Soil, produce and buildings were frequently lost or damaged. Other riverside properties were not immune. In September 1844 the river ran high and destroyed a starch factory at Walkerville and a brewery in Adelaide. Club boat houses have been damaged or washed away from time to time. Recreation By 1862, however, there were those who perceived the recreational possibilities of the river and its valley in the vicinity of Adelaide. In 1862 ‘Cataractus’, writing to the Register, proposed that two footbridges ought to be built across the Torrens, and that the river be dammed near the gaol. This would convert the river and its valley into a lake, which would beautify the area and make it into one where Adelaideans could take their leisure.

That dream became a reality in 188l; though what is regarded as ‘leisure’, and ‘entertainment’ varies both individually and in time. A footbridge opened in 2014 was constructed across the Torrens Lake connecting the refurbished Adelaide Oval and the Convention Centre–Casino complex to the south. Linear parks have been constructed along the river both to the west and upstream from the city, where the O-Bahn busway also utilises the valley corridor. As a result of damming the river, sediment and other debris which was formerly carried and deposited to the west, in the Reedbeds, was trapped behind the dam, necessitating the periodic draining of the lake and clearing of the accumulated debris. Algal blooms can also be a nuisance in summer. But the Torrens Lake, with its birds and boats, and its adjacent lawns and gardens, popular for picnics and for quiet contemplation, its restaurants with alfresco dining, and its associated sports venues, undoubtedly enhances the city centre and is a welcome and popular development. For thousands, the Torrens Lake is synonymous with the ‘Popeye’ boat and paddleboats.

Though the river and its environs have always had their darker side, they are, by and large, a picturesque amenity located in the very special parklands. They are greatly appreciated by residents and visitors of all ages. By CR Twidale, University of Adelaide This entry was first published in The Wakefield companion to South Australian history edited by Wilfrid Prest, Kerrie Round and Carol Fort (Adelaide: Wakefield Press, 2001). Edited lightly and references updated. Uploaded 28 January 2015. Cite this CR Twidale, University of Adelaide, ‘River Torrens’, SA History Hub, History Trust of South Australia, accessed 18 December 2016. Adelaide Oval and Torrens Footbridge - Capital City Committee Adelaide Oval and Torrens Footbridge The redevelopment of the Adelaide Oval is part of the South Australian Government’s vision to unite some of the state’s top sporting codes and deliver a world-class sporting stadium and event space for all South Australians, sitting within a revitalized Riverbank precinct with improved links to the city.

The project to redevelop this inner-city stadium combines the best of bold new design with the renowned heritage of the Adelaide Oval, and was made possible with an investment of $535 million. The new Adelaide Oval delivers the ultimate spectator experience, outstanding corporate facilities, is family friendly, and has world-class facilities for sports people. The size and scale of the project means it has created significant employment opportunities for South Australians and local firms. The southern stand and entrance plaza was completed before the Ashes Test in late 2013 with the entire project completed for the beginning of the Australian Football League season in 2014. The new $40 million Torrens Footbridge is Adelaide’s newest landmark, linking the redeveloped Adelaide Oval with the Festival Centre and a revitalized Riverbank. The bridge links millions of dollars in investment on both sides of the River Torrens.

Question: Winch Australian state capital is on the River Torrens?
Answer: ADELAIDE